Pentagon has announced suspending the delivery of materials required for the transfer of F-35 fighter jets, which Ankara is a partner of.

The Pentagon order stops all deliveries and activities related to Turkiye’s purchase of 100 of F-35 fighter jets. Turkiye already has officially taken delivery of two of the planes, but the aircraft have remained in the United States while Turkish pilots are being trained.

"Pending an unequivocal Turkish decision to forgo delivery of the S-400, deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkiye’s F-35 operational capability have been suspended," Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, a Defense Department spokesman, said in a statement.

The Pentagon has also announced that the necessary measures have been taken to prevent any disruption in the production of such warplanes if Turkey leaves its F-35 program.

Turkiye is also one of the co-producers of the F-35 fighter jet, responsible for the manufacture of key components of the fuselage, landing gears and cockpit.

The U.S. wants Turkiye to purchase American-made Patriot missiles instead of Russian-made S-400s defense system.

Last week, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation prohibiting the transfer of any ­F-35s to Turkiye. Senators said that Turkiye’s S-400 purchase not only risked NATO security but also was a violation of a 2017 law threatening sanctions for any allied purchase of sophisticated Russian technology.

ILKHA